Dragonadopters.com » Torres low cross.Bilbao stayed in 13th place, its

CHICAGO -- It didnt take long for the San Antonio Spurs to show the Chicago Bulls why theyre leading the NBA. Manu Ginobili scored 22 points and Tony Parker had 20 points and nine assists, and the Spurs beat the Bulls 104-96 Tuesday night for their seventh straight win and 10th in their last 11. San Antonio jumped out to a big advantage early, taking a 38-14 lead after one quarter and going up 61-33 into halftime. That helped them improve to 24-6 on the road, the NBAs best mark away from home. Kawhi Leonard added 16 and nine rebounds for the Spurs (47-16), who maintained their hold on the NBAs best record. With the win they stayed a half-game ahead of Oklahoma City and Indiana, who both won. "Wonderful game, we were very sharp," Ginobili said. "We made a lot of shots in the beginning, which gave us a lead that ... its easier to play like that." Parker had 18 at halftime and went 8 for 15 from the field for a team that made 51 per cent overall against one of the NBAs best defensive clubs. Ginobili was 9 of 11. Also the leagues top 3-point shooting team at 39.2 per cent, San Antonio made 12 of 21 from behind the arc, including four from Ginobili. That and the big first half added up to another win for the Spurs, who are 14-3 since a 96-86 loss to Chicago on Jan. 29 and can improve on that Wednesday at home against Portland. The Spurs roster is finally healthy, something coach Gregg Popovich noted. "We seem like were playing pretty consistently now," Popovich said. "I dont think were going to win every game down the stretch." The Bulls, meanwhile, were coming off a dramatic 95-88 win Sunday over the Heat but couldnt build off that victory, falling to 1-2 on a season-high six-game homestand that also has games with the Rockets, Kings and Thunder. Coach Tom Thibodeau blamed himself for the slow start. "I told them, thats completely on me. My job is to have them ready. We had no edge to us," Thibodeau said. "Thats a championship-calibre team thats playing on all cylinders and theyre going after it, so if you dont match that intensity to start, you are going to get in a big hole. "So I didnt prepare them the way they needed to be prepared for that, so thats on me." D.J. Augustin led the Bulls with 24 points and Jimmy Butler had 23. Joakim Noah, whose name has started to be mentioned in MVP discussions, had 13 and eight rebounds. That all was a far cry from Sunday, when the Bulls held Miami to 40.5 per cent shooting and overcame a 42.2 per cent shooting game of their own. That didnt happen Tuesday for the Bulls, who were 43 per cent from the field. "Its on us," Butler said. "Were the ones out there playing, so we have to bring it each and every night. Thibs can only do so much. You learn from it." The Bulls saw early how costly a slow start can be, only pulling to within eight late in the fourth quarter. Ginobilis reverse layup with a second left in the period gave San Antonio a 38-14 lead after the first. The Spurs ended the half leading by 28 and hitting 61 per cent from the field, looking like a team peaking. Ginobili, however, hopes they arent doing that too early. "Its not the right time yet. Still 20 games to go," Ginobili said. NOTES: Spurs guard and former Bull Marco Belinelli scored 10 points and got a warm reception when he checked in for the first time with 10.1 seconds left in the first quarter. ... Spurs coach Gregg Popovich noted Belinellis contributions and jokingly said hes "a great source for Italian restaurants around the league." ... Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau is not surprised fatigue hasnt hit his team yet, despite its lack of depth. "Whatever it is that youre facing, youve got to be ready to accept that challenge and be ready to play," he said. ... Because of the injuries the Spurs have suffered this season, Popovich was asked if this season has been his best coaching job. "Havent they all been brilliant?" he said. "I got no clue. My 2-22 season in Pomona was my best." ... Popovich said Noahs personality is "the opposite" of Duncan in terms of showing emotion, but praised the Bulls centres emotional fire. Steven Stamkos Jersey . Right-hander Ricky Nolasco and the Twins agreed to terms on a free-agent contract Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. Martin St. Louis Jersey . Floundering in the English Premier League, United has delivered better performances in Europe this season and stunned Bayern by taking the lead against the run of play through Nemanja Vidics header in the 58th minute. Bayern had dominated possession but struggled to create a clear-cut chance before Schweinsteiger arrowed a half-volley high into the net in the 67th to give the German side a slight advantage ahead of the second leg in Munich next week. http://www.hockeylightning.com/authentic-vincent-lecavalier-lightning-jersey/ . The Giants chances of winning the division were dealt a serious blow by the three-game sweep at the hands of the lowly Padres. The Giants open a three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Monday night. San Francisco is still in good shape to clinch a wild-card berth, although it dropped into a tie with Pittsburgh in the race for the top spot. Ryan McDonagh Jersey . Orlandos Glen Davis tried to get in the way, only to be driven back into the padding under the basket as the Pelicans forward slammed home a windmill jam. Custom Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys . -- The Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a minor league contract with reliever Brandon Lyon that includes an invitation to their big league camp for spring training.LONDON - After one of the most startling days in the FA Cups 144-year history, three Premier League clubs restored order Sunday with fourth-round victories to stem the flow of upsets.Arsenal, West Ham and Aston Villa beat lower-league opponents a day after Chelsea and Manchester City were among five of the Premier Leagues top nine clubs to be ousted.Juventus and Lyon, meanwhile, tightened their grips on first place in the Italian and French leagues.A look at the best of the action in Europes top leagues:___ENGLANDArsenal beat second-tier Brighton 3-2 after being set on its way by early goals from Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil. Tomas Rosicky was the other scorer for Arsenal, which is looking to retain the trophy and as the fifth-place team in the top tier is the highest-ranked club guaranteed a spot in the last 16.Senegal striker Diafra Sakho came off the bench and scored an 81st-minute header to send West Ham to a 1-0 victory at Bristol City, which is second in English soccers third tier.Villa won at home 2-1 against second-tier leader Bournemouth. Carles Gil, with his first goal since moving from Valencia, and Andreas Weimann scored for the Premier League team.The draw for the fifth round is Monday.___ITALYPaul Pogba scored in the 60th minute and later set up a goal by Stephan Lichtsteiner to send Juventus to a 2-0 victory over Chievo Verona.Roma, seven points back in second place, drew for the third straight game as it was held 1-1 at Fiorentina.Palermo had a goal ruled out in a 1-1 draw at Sampdoria, with the home teams new signing Samuel Etoo in attendance.A stoppage-time goal gave Torino a 1-0 win at Inter Milan, its first since 1988. A latte goal also saw Cesena beat Parma 2-1 in the relegation race.dddddddddddd Hellas Verona downed Atalanta 1-0, with Javier Saviola scoring his first Serie A goal.___SPAINMalaga rallied for a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish league, four days before the two meet for a spot in the Copa del Rey semifinals.Abel Resino debuted as Granadas manager in a 2-2 draw at Deportivo La Coruna. The leagues last-place club went a 16th round without a victory.Bilbaos Mikel San Jose headed in Markel Susaetas corner kick at the near post in the 70th minute. Eight minutes later, Javi Guerra tapped home Miguel Torres low cross.Bilbao stayed in 13th place, its winless run in the league reaching seven rounds. Malaga remained in seventh after four rounds without a victory.___FRANCEZlatan Ibrahimovic scored for the first time in five league games, blasting home a penalty in Paris Saint-Germains scrappy 1-0 win at Saint-Etienne.The win kept PSG four points behind leader Lyon, which beat 10-man Metz 2-0 with top striker Alexandre Lacazette scoring and getting injured.PSG moved up to second place, level on points and on goal difference with bitter rival Marseille.Ibrahimovics 60th-minute spot-kick was awarded after midfielder Jeremy Clement was adjudged to have handled the ball.Earlier, Lacazette scored his league-leading 21st goal — and his 13th goal in the past nine games — to fire Lyon ahead in the 31st.Two minutes later, he hurt his right hamstring stretching for a high ball, and is expected to miss next Sundays trip to fifth-place Monaco — with Lyon hosting PSG the weekend after.Midfielder Corentin Tolisso added Lyons other goal in the 84th. ' ' '